Seal-lock



(No Model.)

G. E. GREENE.

- SEAL LOCK.

No. 455,040. Patented June 30, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFEICE.

GILBERT F. GREENE, or TooooA, GEORGIA.

SEAL- LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,040, dated June 30, 1891. Application filed November 18 1890. Serial No. 371,783. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GILBERT F. GREENE, a resident of Toccoa, in the county of Habersham and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal- Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

The invention has relation to the seal-lock described in Patent No. 431,051, granted July 1, 1890, to Frank Greene, and its object is to avoid the necessity of extending a transverse opening entirely through the pin to provide for the removal of the tag-holder. By my improvement the recess in the pin that receives the tag-holder is closed at the rear, so that under no circumstances can access be had to it, nor is the pin weakened by a continuous passage theret-hrough.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the look as it appears in use. Fig. 2 is a similar View indicating the method of removing the tag-holder. Fig. 3 is a plan of a wire tag-holder, seal, and tag; and Fig. 4 is a like View of a modification of the same.

Numeral 1 denotes a bolt, hook, or pin having a head 2 and of any usual form, except that it has a recess provided with a loop-retainer 3, with an inclined face, and a loop-retaining shoulder 4. This retainer is disconnected or free at its sides and top from the pin, whereby it is adapted to receive a wire loop or analogous ta -holder. The said recess is located in the head or upper end of the pin, and has an opening at 5 for the introduction of a wire-loop tag-holder 6 or a sheet-metal tag-holder 6'. The recess is entirely closed except at the opening 5.

The tag-holder 6 is formed bybending suitable wire in U form, and then, after passing the ends 10 through a tag 7, bending them back nearly parallel with the members 9,but so that their extremities shall be between and in the same plane with said members, and then securing upon them a seal 11, preferably made of sheet metal. This is clinched upon the wires and securely holds their extremities between the members 9. The wires are preferably soldered together at or near their ends. The pin having been placed in a staple 12, passing through a hasp 13 in the usual manner, the tag, tag-holder, and seal are connected therewith by pushing the Wire loop up through the opening 5 into the recess in the pin. When thus thrust into the recess, the loop slides up the inclined face of the retaining projection 3 and is turned one side thereby until the extreme end of the loop passes the projection 3 and springs back behind its shoulder 4. lVhen thus placed, the seal will be within the staple, which is made of such dimensions and is so located that there is space between it and the pin adjacent to the opening 5 to permit the insertion of the tag-holder and its seal, which latter is partially concealed and protected by its situation between the staple and pin. The seal may, however, be below the staple The device having been thus applied cannot be removed Without first tearing off the tag from its holder and then lifting the pin out of the staple. This having been done, the holder can be inclined to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that its upper end will clear the retaining projection 3, whereupon it can be withdrawn from the recess and made ready for reuse by removing the seal and straightening the ends of the wire, so that they can be ap plied to a new tag, or a new holder can be substituted. Its form also can be varied, and in Fig. 4 is illustrated a modified form. In this modification a sheet-metal strip 6, provided with a slot 6 made of such size as to suitably embrace the retainer 3, is passed through the tag, and its end then bent back upon itself in such manner that when applied in practical use said end will be within the staple and immediately between it and the body of the pin just below the opening 5. If desired, this end can be covered by a seal, as in the case of the wire loop. It will be obvious that a hook having a similar recessed head could be substituted for the pin.

The retaining projection 3 may be varied in size and in position, provided it be so located that its inclined surface shall be in the path of the tag-holder when pushed between a staple or like part and through the opening 5. v

The tag-holder should be made of elastic material, so that it will be easily bent aside by the action of the inclined plane and spring behind the projection when it has passed beyond said plane. It is obvious that the inclined face might be curved without defeatin g the operation.

I am aware that a pin has been provided with a recess having a shoulder adapted to engage a spring tag-holder, said pin being provided with special opening for the removal of the tag-holder preparatory to its reuse. By my improvement said opening is dispensed with.

Having thus described my invention, What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is The pin having a recess closed except at one point and having in said recess a narrow 1oop-retainer With an inclined face and free sides located near an opening into the recess, and a tag-holder made of elastic material and provided with an opening or loop Wider than the retainer, all as specified, whereby it is adapted to be pushed into said first-named opening and up the inclined face and sprung over the retainer, in combination with a tag secured to said holder, and a staple and hasp and a seal fastened to the tag-holder, substair tially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GILBERT F. GREENE.

Witnesses:

E. P. SIMPSON, L. P. (300K. 

